Bust-measuring device



Nov. 20, 1951 H, HEIMAN BUST MEASURING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1948 1N V ENTOR. ,Harry Hel'man @SNCM ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 20, 1951v YBUST-MEASURING DEVICE Harry Heiman, New York, N.,Y., assigner of onehalfto Henry M. Plehn, New York, N. Y.

Application July 8, 1948, Serial No. 37,598

' in terms of the circumferential measurearound the thorax at the levelof the nipples of the breasts and of the capacity of the cups of thegarment. The identication of size has been, heretofore, afigurerepresenting the circumferential measure in inches and anarbitrary letter representing the cup size. While this system ofidentifying size is in general use it is well known that the cup-sizesymbols are not standardized, and that one manufacturers symbol mayrelate to a cup size slightly different from that identified by the samesymbol on another manufacturers product.

It is manifest that the measurements requisite to the proper tting of abrassire are the actual chest measurement exclusive of the incrementrelating to the protuberant breasts, and the increment itself; for withsuch information the proper length of band and the proper cup size,

' this latter calibrated in terms of such increment,

may readily be selected.

Thus the present invention contemplates a device for quickly and simplyascertaining both the actual basic chest measure exclusive of saidincrement, and the increment itself, so that the tter may know therequired band length and the amount of mammary protuberance required tobe accommodated by the cups. In consequence, the invention contemplatesa device for accurately obtaining such measurements whereby the properselection of brassires may be greatly facilitated K one of the measuringtapes of the device.

Claims.

Fig. 5 is an outline horizontal section of a female human thorax.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a female human thoraxshowing the device in use.

Fig. 7 is the section 1 1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is the section 8--8 of Fig. 1.

The device comprises, as shown in Fig. 1, two yokes I0 and Il,preferably of transparent plastic; two straps I2 and I3 connecting theyokes; an interrupted tape measure having one part I4 attached to thecenter of yoke I0 through a slot I5, and another part- Iconnected to thecenter of yoke II through a slot I1; and an auxiliary tape measure I8connected at one end to the center of yoke I6 through slot I5 and passedthrough slot I1 of yoke II and having a tab I9 on its other endsufficiently large to be incapable of passing through slot I1.

The straps I2 and I3 are both permanently attached at one end to yokeII, as shown, and removably attached at the other end to yoke IIJ.

' Each strap comprises a chain composedalternately of strips of tape,preferably fabric, and of rigid links. The righthand portion of eitherstrap is a strip of tape considerably longer than all other portions ofthe tape combined, while the other two tape portions of the strap are ofequal length, such length being but a small fraction of that of therighthand portion. The straps may be removably attached to yoke IB byplacing one link of each strap over one of two hooked lugs 26 and 2Iprovided at the extremities of the yoke. The links of strap I2 areindexed 22, 23, and 24; those of strap I3 are indexed 25,26, and 21.Each link (see Fig. 2) is preferably a lozenge-shaped element having acentral longitudinal slot 28 to accommodate tape forming part of thestrap and also to accommodate the hooked lug of yoke I0 relating to thestrap. The construction of the straps adopted for the purposes ofillustration will be readily understood to be one that permits of readyvariation of the effective length of the straps. In Fig. l links 22 and25 are shown engaging lugs 20 and 2|, and the maximum availableseparation of the yokes II) and II obtains. This maximum separation isdimensioned x. If links 23 and 26, instead of links 22 and 25, areplaced over lugs 20 and 2| respectively, the separation of the yokes isdecreased by the length of one of the smaller tape portions of thestraps; and if lugs 24 and 21 are similarly used, the separation of theyokes is further decreased by the same length. The intermediateseparation of the yokes is dimensioned y and the minimum separation z.

'.r, y, and z.

The positions of the yokes with respect to the breasts during ameasuring operation is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, a fragmentaryperspective view of a female human thorax: here it is obvious that theseparation between the yokes is desired to be substantially equal to thedistance from the outer side of one breast to the outer side of theother of the person being measured. Thus if the longeri tape portion ofeach strap is thirteen inches in'length and .the shorter tape portionseach of such length that, the width of the slots 28 of the links beingconsidered, each provides aan additional inch of length to the longtapefiportion, the separation of the yokes with the straps stretchedtightly may be variedinxoneinch steps from thirteen to iiiteeninches-fa` rangelsuitable for a great number of women.

Fig. 6 also clearly shows the purpose of employing the two straps. Thestraps, togetherwith the yokes and the parts It and i6 of the inter--rupted Vvtape measure, actually constitute vthe equivalent of a tapemeasure having a bifurcated portion, so that the breasts are bypassedabove .and below in the measuring operation and so that the 'figures ofpart i6 read in terms of the axial chest measure at the level of` thenipples oi the breasts exclusive or" the increment relating to theprotuberance of the breasts.

Neither part lll nor part I6 oi'v the interrupted -tape measure isprovidedwith means vfor varying-its effective length, except that parti6 is Y provided with three separate scales .29, 39, and

v{iL-vas seen in Fig. 1. Scale 29 is calibrated to read in termsof thechest measure (against an end marker 32 of part Id) when the device isused with the yokes at their greatest separation; scale 3B vto read insuch terms Awhen the device is used with the yokes at intermediateseparation; and scale 3l to read in such terms @when the device is usedwith the yokes at their least separation. Ii the maximum availableseparation is iifteen inches, the intermediate. Yfourteen inches, andthe least thirteen inches, and the eective length of part I4 nineinches, the gures of scale 2s should be arranged, as shown in Fig. 1, tocompensate for twenty-four inches from the marker 32 of part l totheinside edge Vof yoke ll; likewise, the figures ofscale .3d should bearranged, as shown, to compensate for twenty-three inches from themarker to the yoke H, and the figures of scale 3l should be arranged, asshown, to compensate for twentytwo inches from the markerk toyoke Il.Thus the scales should be staggered, and, in Fig. .1, theyare shown tobe.

As a convenience it is suggested that a color code be used as a readyvisual index of the relationships between certain pairs or" strap linksandthe threescales of .part I6. The .three Settings of the straps arethose having dimensions red (color as, Fig. 1), links 23 and 26 andscale 30 yellow (color y), and links 24 and. Z'lrand scale 3l blue(color e).

The auxiliary tape measure i8, one of which is attached to yoke lll-andwhich passes through slotel'l of yoke H, is also provided with threeseparate scales 33,' 34, and 35. These scales are V- staggered likescales 29, 3B, and 3i. ySee a fragmentary plan View of measure i8 inFig. 4 wherein color code has been entered upon the draw- Iingto showthat the background of scale 33 -is red, of scale'Sd yellow, and ofscale 35`blue The color red, for example, may be selected to representthe dimensiones, yellow the dimension gaand blue the dimension e.Accordingly, links 22 and 25 and scale 29 maybe the zeroxmarkcof scale'33;="and .the zero mark of scale 35ais-ladvanced :withsfrespect to thatof scale 34 so that the two-inch mark of scale :35 is aligned with thezero mark oi scale 33.

. In ,using the device to make bust measure- `ments, as illustrated inFig. 6, the device is tted 15 -zfaroundlthegbody with the straps aboveand below the-breasts, and the measure I8 is then tightened Wacross thebreasts so that a reading may be taken on theA appropriate scale at thelefthand edge :of-,slot- I1.

With reference now to Fig. 5, an outline horizontal section through thethorax at Y the level-onthenipplesof.,the breasts, ,the meas- .ureofwhichpart i6 isthe scaled portion.'gives the distance 'fromgfl throughTE (roughly .the front of ,.thelsternuml bone), B, and F (the spine)back to -A. A yand B represent points .of the circumferential measure atthebeginning of the lateral mammary Astructure vsuperposed on `thechest', itself: in other wordsA andBrepresent the positions ,oftheyyokes v(seelig. 6). "The auxiliary vmeasure I8 Yindicates not fthelength of the path' from A through IC (left nipple) .and D (rightnipple) vto 13,. but the increment by Ywhich [the measure Yaround.theizthorax at and. over the nipples exceeds' the actual chestmeasureat that level. The 'dotted line AEB,".F ig.'5, indicates the averagepath of the straps. While the auxiliary measure follows ra straight line(dotted).from 1C .topD and does not touchatE' (before the `sternum), ithas been found that the index .of incrementsofound .is suilicientfor allpractical purposes in ldesigning brassire cups-theusual slightkdifference in size of the breasts of a pair being immaterial.

'FigsLZg 7, and8 clearlyjillustrate vsimple means whereby the 'tapelportionsy of the device may "be'secured to other4 portions through theseveral slots. Inthese figures an end of each tape portionshown" is.seento' be' looped back upon itself' so that it may sobesecuredinany.suitable Ymanner,A as 'by sewing.

I claim: '1. A 'bust measuring 'device comprisingtwo :'measuring'strapsand a pair ofyokes connecting Vtheir ends .and .constituting `a frame,said frame 'being vadapted .to Asurround the bust .and to Vlie againstl,the ,surface ci the .chest proper and an interrupted tape measuresecured .on

' both sides ,of said `-frame `whereby theV lgirtlrof lthe chestexclusive of the, protuberancetofthe L breastsmaybemeasured, and-anauxiliary-measuring. tape attached to one of said yokes. whereby 'fthedistance fromsaidyoketo theotheryoke may be. measured over the breastsat thelevel of the nipplesl to 'derive an index of the amount of saidprotuberance.

2. A bust measuringdevice according 4to claim "lfwherein' onejportion ofsaid '.interrupted tape measure'is marked ordinally in units of lengtheach mark representingthe distance from that Vmarkthroughzsaid''frametothe far-end of .the Mother'portion of-Y said interrupted tape measure;

and wherein the auxiliary measuring tape is -marked ordinally inunits'of length the zero mark thereof coincidingfwithv that sideof'said-frame to whichsaid-auxiliaryl tape/measure is not-attached"whenff'said auxiliary tape measure is auxiliary measuring tape may bestretched over the nipples of the breasts to the other end of saidbifurcated portion to measure the distance from one end to the other ofsaid bifurcated portion around the outside of the interveningprotuberance of the bust.

4. A bust measuring device according to claim 1 wherein said straps areparallel, and said parallel straps being adjustable as to length, andone portion of said interrupted tape measure being provided with aplurality of series of markings, said series being staggered withrespect each to the other, whereby a correct reading of the girth of thechest may be had from one or another of said series in accordance withthe adjustment of said parallel straps.

5. A bust parallel device compris-ing two measuring straps and a pair ofyokes connecting their ends and constituting a frame said straps beingadjustable step by step as to length, and said frame being adapted tosurround the bust and to lie against the surface of the chest proper andan interrupted tape measure having portions secured on both sides ofsaid frame; whereby the girth of the chest exclusive of the protuberanceof the breasts may be measured; and an auxiliary measuring tape attachedto one of said yokes whereby the distance from said yoke to the otheryoke may be measured over the breasts at the level of the nipples toderive an index of the amount of said protuberance; one of theportionsof said interrupted tape measure and the auxiliary measuring tape beingprovided with a plurality of scales, one scale of each relating to aparticular adjustment of said parallel straps, and the other scalesrelating to other given adjustments of said parallel straps.

6. A bust measuring device comprising a pair of yokes and a pair ofsubstantially parallel straps of equal length connected together attheir ends by said yokes., said straps and said yokes forming a frameadapted to be placed against the surface of the chest surrounding thebust; an interrupted tape measure having one part attached to one ofsaid yokes, and another part thereof attached to the other of saidyokes; and an auxiliary measur- `uring tape may be carried across thebreasts at the level of the nipples thereofto measure the 6 distancebetween the yokes when the same are positioned to the right and to theleft of the bust.

7. A bust measuring device comprising a chest girth measuring partand abust protrusion measuring part, said chest girth measuring partcomprising a portion adapted to by-pass the bust Without passing overthe bust and another portion connected at one end to the rst mentionedportion and adapted to be passed around the thorax to measure the girthof the chest exclusive of the protuberance of the breast.

8. A device to measure the girth of the chest exclusive of theprotuberance of the breast, comprising a bifurcated frame, and aninterrupted tape measure, said bifurcated frame having a portion adaptedto pass above the breasts of the person being measured and a portionadapted to pass beneath the breasts of the person being measured, saidinterrupted tape measure having portions secured to both sides of theframe and calibrated to include the length of the frame from one side ofthe breasts to the other side of the breasts.

9. A device to measure the girth of the chest exclusive of theprotuberance of the breast and to provide an indicia of breastprotuberance comprising a bifurcated frame, and an interrupted tapemeasure, said bifurcated frame having a portion adapted to pass abovethe breasts of the person .being measured and a portion adapted to passbeneath the breasts of the person being measured, said interrupted tapemeasure having portions secured to both sides of the frame andcalibrated to include the length of the frame from one side of thebreasts to the other side of the breasts, and an auxiliary tape measuresecured at one end to one side of the frame and having a free endadapted to be passed across the breasts of the person being measured.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said auxiliary tape measureis calibrated in units with the zero point being located on saidauxiliary tape measure a distance from the point Where said auxiliarytape'measure is secured to the frame, equal to the width of the frame.

HARRY HEIMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 545,139 Start Aug. 27, 1895633,654 Melick Sept. 26, 1899 902,704 Anderson Nov. 3, 1908 1,487,509Bushlowitz Mar. 18, 1924 2,150,305 Welch Mar, 14, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 453,394 Great Britain Sept. 10, 1936 i

